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Do western architects disrespect eastern architecture?

Seung, who is the third Korean architect ever selected and the only one to get invited twice, says he hesitated to participate in the Biennale. This is because of the 64 star architects invited, there were only two from Asia: Seung and Japanese architect Kazuyo Sejima. “I thought the European architecture world doesn’t respect Asian architecture. After hesitating, I decided to go and discuss Asian architectural values that aren’t found in Western architecture.”
— english.hani.co.kr

3 Comments

Does cultural domination have anything to do with colonization by force? Sure, many people "respect" Asian architecture and find it "fascinating," "exotic," but ultimately the colonized orient is culturally "passive" if not "inferior" outside of the very few chapters.

In the 21st. Century however, things might change and west might need to learn to get by with scarce resources by learning from the third world. Bonjour Paris or Salaam Bombay?

Our strongest hope is the third world.

But that is not the kind of respect Seung is talking about. He is talking about perception and sensibilities culturally ingrained in Eastern thought. He is also talking a bit about the lost art of East with a small dose of nostalgia. Unfortunately, those humble virtues he is seeking to verify not disrespected in the West, are seen as weakness there..

Historically West only paid selective attention to "oriental" thinking, followed by marginalization and domestication. It is too late now. We are all Villa Rotonda architects. Only thing East can do is make money, dominate the markets and don't waste time for trying to make sure West does not disrespect. If you want respect, West respects power.

Mr. Seung, you should also realize, that, you have been invited to the Western Avenue Club because you also do Villa Rotonda. Sometimes better than them. A lot of times better.. Look at your work.. That is power. You are not disrespected. You are an ally. A global bridge. An ambassador of commerce for them.

i'm quite sure that all architecture school / formal education build with western approach. It must be really hard for one to even try to take a different turn away from the western way of thinking in architecture. I believe some must already started taking that turn, but it would take another era for it to really grow into another phenomenon. however in this contemporary blurry flat world, we wouldn't even notice. there wouldn't be a silver lining framing the history and one's domination over a birth of a phenomenon. All shall raise as one, on one surface. what happen now , imho , is that eastern started to find their faith in visions, and the confidence to live within, in short "the power".

I came here to find agreement with the above comments. I also hope that he avoids the track of making spurious claims that only reinforces the exoticism of oriental traditions, whatever that may be. The latest Pritzker winner was a more intriguing figure before his speech about sentimental crafts, and no single architect in Asia should ever need to take the burden of representing a very disparate region.